Posts Tagged ‘Buying A Used Car’

Most of us realize that used cars are usually less expensive than new cars. But we often still shy away from that kind of bargain because we may be intimidated by just what we may be buying. Could it be a great deal, or a lemon? And how do you know? Well, there actually is a way to work through the process of buying a great used car if you follow a few simple steps and stick to your guns. Would it surprise you that your first stop should be your credit union? Well, it should be.You need to know how much car you can afford, and what the terms will be before you go car shopping. When you talk to your credit union, make sure you understand the difference in rates, if any, between various car model years. Newer car loans are generally lower than the interest rates charged for older models. Why? The lender assumes more risk with an older vehicle, and they pass some of that risk on to you in the form of a slightly higher rate. Does that mean you should only buy newer models? Not necessarily. That newer car will probably cost more, so even at a lower interest rate your payments could be higher than the payments on a less expensive older model at a slightly higher interest rate. Of course, your individual credit-worthiness will impact the loan rate you are quoted, as with any other financial product. Be sure you ask, too, if the credit union is sponsoring a used car sale any time soon. These events can give you a great place to comparison shop for dozens and dozens of vehicles. The prices are usually marked on (or in) the cars, and may be purported to be ?non-negotiable.? But ask anyway. You may be able to negotiate a lower price, so why not check it out?One more thing to check about car models you may be interested in is car insurance. It may be worth a call to your insurance agent to get a sense of what differences you might see in car insurance rates for different types of vehicles and models. Should you buy that Mustang or Taurus? It’s not really a surprise that a very powerful engine might be more expensive to insure, is it? So check that out before you buy. You may also want to ask your agent what differences in rates you might see depending on who is driving the car. If your 17 year old son will be one of the drivers, find out what that means to your insurance costs on the vehicle models you are considering.What’s next? You are ready to start your additional homework. Sounds a little boring? Think about this. The salesman you are buying a car from has sold hundreds of them—or even thousands. How many have you bought? It makes some sense for you to spend a little time in research to even the playing field a little. And if you buy from a private owner, you still need to do your homework to know what little problems to look for that the owner himself may not even be aware of.Fortunately, there are some disclosure regulations on your side. Some states require safety inspections and require that the results of those inspections be made available to prospective purchasers. Check with your state’s transportation department web site or your state secretary of state’s office or justice department as places to start looking for what help your state’s regulations may provide you. The Federal Trade Commission also has a Used-Car regulation which says that dealers must disclose whether or not used cars have any unexpired warranty protection. These same agencies can provide you information about any lemon laws which may exist in your state.When you are looking for your car, you will generally find that similar vehicles are more expensive from dealers than from private parties. There are several reasons for this. Dealers often recondition cars. Some offer warranties. And consumers may actually have more recourse if something does go wrong with a purchase from a dealer than from a private party. Consider, also, your own knowledge about cars. If you are a shade-tree mechanic in your own right, you may be able to evaluate a car with more confidence than someone without that knowledge. If that’s your situation, it may be quite logical for you to gravitate toward purchase from a private party.Most of us have some idea of what kinds of vehicles appeal to us. Make your short list, and hit the computer. You have a better resource than ever before to do some basic research about the models you are considering. One of the most popular such sites is http://www.edmunds.com/, but there are many others including Consumer Reports.Let’s assume you have identified the vehicle of your dreams, you know what it will cost to insure, and you have a good idea of how to check it out. These sites can also give you vehicle reports on specific individual vehicles when you input the vehicle’s VIN number. The VIN number (Vehicle Identification Number) is usually visible just at the base of the windshield on the driver’s side. A vehicle history report on each candidate is absolutely critical when you have narrowed your choice to 3 or 4 cars. You may also want to circle back to your credit union again to find the ideal vehicle. Many large credit unions have buying services where they will take the information you provide about what vehicle you want and they will search for it for you. Then you can input the VIN and make sure the car is worth pursuing before you even go look at it. Make sure you know what, if any, fees such buying services will cost you.Another source for your vehicle could be from companies such as Hertz and Avis which sell ?program cars,? or cars which have come out of their rental fleets. They often have low mileage and are far less expensive than new cars, but even these vehicles should be thoroughly researched if you are considering purchasing one.Would you believe that you may want to make one more pass at your credit union once you’ve found the perfect car? Suppose you’ve identified one at a local dealer, you are convinced you have their best price, and you’ve checked out the VIN number and talked to your insurance agent. And you know how much your credit union will lend you at what terms. But you don’t know what they will lend you on THIS car. A great way to confirm that ‘the price is right? is to ask your credit union exactly what they will lend on the car you want to buy. If it’s considerably less than what the asking price is, you may not have such a good deal after all.Sound like a lot of work? It’s really not when you consider that our vehicles are going to transport us and our loved ones at 65 miles per hour (or more!) for what we hope is a good long time. Do the work up front to find a safe, reliable, affordable vehicle for your family. It’s a great use of your time!

About the Author: This and many other articles about your personal finances can be found at http://www.usacreditunions.com Use our ?How to Find a Credit Union? page to – Find, and Join one.

For the average individual who knows little about cars or mechanics, buying a used car can be a worrying experience. Buying a car is often one of the biggest purchases we make in our lives and the nagging doubt of whether or not you are about to buy a lemon always makes buying a used car difficult. So how do you go about choosing a car that is unlikely to be a lemon?

If you have found a ?bargain? or a car you like the look of go check it out. At this stage it is always useful to take someone who knows something about cars with you if you can. If you haven’t got anyone whose opinion you can trust then you are going to have to use your own instincts.

Check for obvious accident damage. Accident damaged cars can be spotted by little tell tail signs. Look for signs of overspray to panels, bumpers and fittings, look for areas of paintwork that are inconsistent with the general condition of the car (these may indicate filled dents, filled rotten patches) and check that all the tyres are wearing evenly (uneven wear may indicate the car isn’t running straight and true as a result of a crash or poorly executed accident repair).

If you are happy there are no obvious clues to suggest accident damage check the general condition of the car for wear. Is the amount of wear consistent with the mileage of the car? Worn foot mats, shiny steering wheels and worn/damaged driver seats are not what you would expect to find on a low mileage car.

Does the car have missing interior fittings or scratched paint work? Would you expect a car you owned from new for a number of years to have accrued a similar amount of damage? Make a mental note of the amount of wear for bargaining purposes should you decide to buy the car.

Check the vehicle for rot in the doorways and wheel arches. A little rot can become a serious costly problem after as little as one year. A lot of rot, especially to structural areas of the car where panels and sections of the car come together could indicate the car is not safe to drive.

Once you have established the car looks to be cosmetically genuine and that the condition is as you would expect for the cars age start to look at the mechanics of the car. Check the oil on the dipstick. Are there bubbles in the oil? If there are bubbles this is a sure sign of water in the oil and likely to result in expensive repair. Check the water filler. Is there a white residue on the cap or visible in the filler area. This is an expensive sign of oil in the water. Check the oil filter (easy to spot, generally looks like a brightly painted tin can sticking out of the side of the engine) does it look to be recently fitted or like it has been on for some time. This is a standard part that is replaced at service and can indicate how the owner has been treating the car.

Start the motor up. Does the engine rattle or have a pronounced ticking noise or does it sound healthy? Is the exhaust loud or well silenced you don’t need to be paying for a new exhaust system. Once the engine has warmed go look at the exhaust. Are there large quantities of smoke, black or white being omitted? Both can indicate expensive faults. At this stage check to make sure headlamps, indicator and brake lights work.

If all seems fine the next step is a test drive. Check the steering. Is it light or vague, neither is a good sign. Does the wheel have a large amount of play in it? Steering is important for clear safety reasons. The steering should be responsive and direct. Neither to heavy nor light.

Check the brakes. Do they inspire confidence? They should pull the car firmly to a stop in a straight line without fading or feeling as if they are about to run out. Find a car park or space where you can turn the car on full lock in both directions. Do the front wheels grind or shriek? This could indicate expensive wheel bearing problems.

If you do not come across these problems then it is fair to say you have a solid used car that is unlikely to be a lemon. Now if you can recall all the little details you spotted you can use these points to bargain a good price and buy the used car with the confidence that you have avoided a lemon.

About the Author:

John Rodgers writes for Used Car San Antonio at http://www.usedcar-sanantonio.com

Get More Assignments by Covering Events

By David Geer
I attended a presentation 50 miles away. The speaker was an executive in the technology space, which is my primary beat. Days before, I started pitching ideas for coverage. I landed one assignment just before going, and another after.
While I’m waiting to hear about other pitches, I’m writing more. I can re-use my research and call the keynoter for additional interviews or follow-up questions. I expect to get several assignments. Many magazines have long lead times and will be happy to hear about the angles I can offer.

Get Announcements; Get Invited.

In my case, a PR Representative invited me. Though I’m not sure how I was found, I can tell you how I make sure I can be found. First, I get my listing up at sites where PR reps look. ProfNet – http://www.ProfNet.com and Media Personnel – http://www.mediapersonnel.com are two examples.

I also seek out PR reps. Go to http://www.google.com and search for [fill in your beat] “news release”. I might search for technology “news release”, for example. Click a release and select the PR rep’s e-mail link. Introduce yourself and ask to be put on their e-mail list. You can also search by company or organization and ask to receive event notices.

Skip the Press Pass.

1) Make arrangements through the PR rep who knows you.

2) Instead of asking if you’ll need a press pass, simply ask how they will know you.

3) Print out invitations, e-mail notifications and anything else to verify your expected arrival.

4) Get names of the people who will know you are coming.

5) If you pick up assignments beforehand, tell the PR rep to pass it on.

6) Carry business cards and clips; look the part, too.

7) If all this isn’t enough, try to get a press pass through a publication you’ve written for, or start out covering events within easy driving distance.

How to interest editors with the offer of event coverage:

1) Let them know you’re definitely going.

2) Make a list of reasons why (a) live coverage, (b) of this event, (c) by you, make your pitch more appealing than others.

3) Factor in the event coverage, a live topical interview or interviews, the topic presented and photos you might take.

4) Explain how interviewing in person makes for better interviews as it involves non-verbal communication, a personal touch and more trust on the part of the interviewee.

5) Know that personal interviewing demonstrates a relationship or better access, making you the better person for the job.

6) By investing in the project you are making a commitment to write a great piece.

What else should you do to reap the most assignments from events?

1) Get known as an expert reporter on the particular beat for events you’re looking for.

2) Make contact from time to time with the PR reps to ask what is coming up in your area. Your extra effort will often return an extra effort by the PR rep to notify you of something they may not have listed.

3) Learn as much as you can about the event speakers, topics, other happenings there, available interviews, related news and how other writers are taking advantage of the event, or whether you might have the only in-person coverage.

4) Make it clear to editors that you will be gathering a broad range of information that should be applicable to their publication. Even if they can’t respond before you attend, they will feel confident in giving you the assignment afterwards.

5) Make it clear that you will be able to get follow-up questions.

6) If an editor writes you declining because it is “too late”, share with them why it isn’t, if you believe they might still be interested.

7) Cement relationships made at events so you can leverage future invitations and interviews.

About the Author

David Geer writes for national and international publications like Computerworld, certain IEEE Computer Society publications and dozens more. E-mail him at David@GeerCom.com, call him at 440-964-9832 or visit his Web site at www.GeerCom.com.

Today, used cars are very in demand in the market. More people are encouraged to buy used cars rather than the new ones due to its availability in terms of financial choices that is very practical nowadays.

Usually, used cars is no difference in buying new cars if the consumer is wise enough to know how to choose and buy used cars.

In order to be the smart one, here are some tips for you to remember when buying a used car.

1. Research: Do your homework. Know the important details when buying used cars. It is very important to know its kind and especially the prices of the used cars in the market. It will definitely lessen the risk if the customer knows what he is looking for.

2. Background Check: Gathering information on the car’s history will be a great thing to do. It will give the buyer some insights regarding its performances, repairs and problems of the car. It won’ be difficult for the consumer to decide on what to buy and not. Most of the buyers do this for their own advantage. So go and discover!

3. Safety First: Check the safety features of the used car. Whether it’s old or new, a car must have safety features because car accidents are mostly happened due to lacking of safety features in the car. It is better safe than sorry.

4. Read the Documents: Buyers must be cautious about the documents that are included when buying used cars. Be sure that the one who signed on the “Bill of Sale” is the true owner and vendor of that property and it is not stolen to prevent problems that may occur later.

5. Be meticulous: Upon selecting, it is better to inspect the overall condition of the used car to buy. See to it that it is rust or damage free and even the tires should be checked too.

Buying a used car is not an easy job. It requires patience to avoid regrets in the end but this assures satisfaction to the buyer that what he or she had is a good one.
About the Author

Copyright – 2007 Tom Flakes. The author gives more car tips at his site JoyTraveller.com. This article may be freely used if this resource box stays attached with links included.

Should You Or Not: Buying A Used CarSubmitted By: Mark Robinson

There are more and more people who are becoming practical these days. There are many reasons for this. Perhaps their priorities may have shifted. Those who are currently working may think of purchasing their own home first before travel. There’s, of course, the constant rising of commodities in the market. It’s no wonder that today used cars are very in demand.

The greatest advantage of used cars is because they are very affordable. Depending on how long the car has been used by its previous owner, you can own a BMW for only hundreds of dollars. Moreover, there are a number of used automobiles that are properly maintained that you cannot even spot the difference when compared with the new.

Yet there are also some disadvantages. The point of this article, therefore, is to help you gauge whether purchasing a used car is the right option for you:

1. Focus on the car’s reliability.

At this point, brand-new cars are the sole winners. Before, there’s hardly any difference between the old and the new. As long as they run, then they’re perfectly fine. However, as time changes, competition has got tougher, and the demands of consumers become more pronounced, various car manufacturing companies decided to change gears. New cars today are of excellent quality, their design perfect not only in terms of style but also of function. Their warranties have already been extended, when you speak of miles and the duration of your warranty. Of course, there’s the aftersales service. With used cars, right after you have bought it from the sale yard, maintenance will all be yours.

2. Know the loans that you can avail.

Both brand-new and used cars have equal chances of being granted with the loan. If you’re going to apply for a financing option for your used car, you will be enjoying very low interest payments. However, the payment term may be shorter, as the car is already depreciating. Meanwhile, depending on how expensive the new car will be, you will be paying considerable amount of money every month for your car loan, but you can buy time as the duration of your loan is quite longer.

3. Check on the price.

At first glance, used cars rank the best. After all, what’s hundred dollars compared to thousands when you will have the same brand and that you can already own a car. Nevertheless, there are more things than selling price that should matter. When you’re going to think of the long term, used cars appear to be more expensive as they will be requiring more maintenance than new ones. There are also the costs you have to spend should you decide to accessorize it. You can also never discount the fact that brand-new automobiles have the coolest and very useful features that you can probably think of, which make them worth your every penny.

In the end, when deciding whether to buy a used car or not, you think of yourself and your needs. If you need car right away, then used ones can make good transportation modes. Otherwise, it pays to save and wait some more and buy yourself a new model.

Article Tags: car, cars, loan

When you are in the market for a used car, it is often hard to know exactly what to look for. Most people spend plenty of time in their cars, but very few us know very much about them, other than how to put gas into them. Here are seven tips you need to know when you go to buy a used car:

1. Look underneath the car and see if there is rust. If there is a considerable amount, talk it over with the salesperson. Rust should get you a price break.

2. Look at the ends of the car. Is the car straight? Are there cracks or bends? If so, talk it over. But these things should be cause for concern.

3. While you are at the ends of the car, look at the bumpers and make sure they are well attached and in good shape.

4. Is the muffler attached to the car? What kind of shape is it in?

5. This one is a little weird, but worthwhile: while the car is off (and cool, meaning that the engine has not run for awhile), feel around inside the tailpipe. If you find that it is greasy there is likely an engine compression problem. Have this looked into or find another car.

6. If you are looking at an SUV or other car where the back window comes down or pops out, make sure that it does what it is intended to do.

There you have it. Six simple used car buying tips that anyone can benefit from. You will still need to do your homework on the price you pay for your used car. But these tips will help you on your way to finding a good, dependable used car.

Did you like those used car buying tips? If you did, I have plenty more. Check out my used car buying newsletter. It’s completely free and it can save you a lot of money and buy you a lot of peace of mind when you buy a used car.

Go here to sign up for my free used car buying newsletter.

Most people have seen or done it, you know what I’m talking about. Kick the tires, on a used car they are thinking of buying. While you can still kick them if you want. However I would suggest that after you kick them you get a little closer to take a look.

The front tires can tell you a little bit about the vehicle if you look closely at them. Check the air pressure, if it’s low this could be a sign of a slow leak, that would require the tire to be repaired or replace. You should check out the trend depth. For the most part, if you can place a United States one cent penny in the tread and can still see the top of former presidents head, the tires are in need of replacement.

Also check to see if the tread is worn evenly. In a slow motion take your fingers, starting at the inside of the tire, run your fingers outward feeling the tire tread. What you are looking for is to see if the tire tread is level. If it’s not level and worn on a angle this could be a sign that the vehicle has been used for towing. It could also be a sign of a serious problem with the front end. There is a possibility that the ball joints, shocks, or tie rods might need to be serviced or replaced. If you suspect this, you should have a certified mechanic look over the vehicle before you purchase it. It may save you from a big headache later on.

Perry Gibson is a long time auto auctions professional, you can get more information at: www.usautoreview.com

Whenever a person buys or leases a car, he seeks ways to finance this move. Most auto financing involves a car loan, which entails a detailed check on his credit history and a tough interview about car finance. When he undergoes all these to buy a used car, it is only fair that he also performs his own investigations about the car he is going to buy. In fact, he should never consider buying a used car, which history has not been checked. If he does, he may just end up paying for a piece of junk.

A used car must be checked for its title, registration, odometer, and the problems that it had weathered before it reached your eyes. A “title check” will determine if the car is salvaged, flooded or rebuilt. For example, many cars were destroyed during the 9-11 World Trade tragedy. Many cars, too, were damaged during the hurricanes and floods. These cars are salvaged by enterprising people. The cars will be rebuilt and sold again at car auctions. A title check will also discover if the used car has lemon history.

A “registration check” will determine if the used car has been used as a fleet car, or as a taxi, or even as a police car. If the used car has been utilized in any of these, then it is safe to say that within a given period of time, this particular used car has covered more miles than the average privately used car. A registration check will also reveal if the used car was ever rented or leased.

The car’s odometer is an instrument used to measure the distance traveled by a vehicle. An “odometer check” will show if the odometer has been broken or fraud. It will also show if it has been rolled back or rolled over. If the odometer has been tampered, this does not bode well for the next owner of the used car. The car may be older than what the dealer is telling you. Or it may have mileage problems.

A “problem check” will determine if the used car has sustained fire damage or an explosion. It will also show if it has been involved in a major accident. The fire or accident may have inflicted a still undetected damage on the used car. It is also quite creepy to use a car that has cradled dead bodies before. A problem check will reveal if the car has been stolen. A car that has been stolen may no longer have all its original parts.

A used car may give you more problems than you can manage. But not all used cars are damaged, leased or stolen. This is why there are still many people who take out car loans to buy a used car. To be safe, the potential buyer must order a vehicle history report.About the Author

Peter Garant is writing articles about bad credit for his credit repair kits blog and articles about car financing for his family finance site.